Tracking management systems and methods

ABSTRACT

A collaborative method for a node includes forming a local network with at least one other node using a lower power subsystem; selecting a master node from among the local network based on a first set of criteria; and communicating with a back end server over a wireless wide area network (WWAN) using a higher power subsystem. An apparatus may include a first subsystem for communicating with a local network; and a second subsystem having an active mode and an inactive mode, the second subsystem for communicating with a wireless wide area network (WWAN) when in the active mode, the apparatus selecting the active mode or inactive mode based on a set of criteria.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

This disclosure relates generally to tracking systems and methods. Moreparticularly, the disclosure relates to collaborative tracking systemsand methods.

2. Related Art

Asset management has always been an important part of commerce. Forexample, tracking packages is important to organizations of all kinds,whether it be a company tracking inventory to be sold in its stores, ora package delivery provider tracking packages being transported throughits delivery network. To provide quality service, an organizationtypically creates and maintains a highly organized network for trackingits packages. Effective management of such networks allows for lowercost, reduced delivery time, and enhanced customer service.

In addition to tracking packages, parties that ship and receive packagesmay also need information regarding the conditions of the packages suchas the temperature and humidity of the package. For example, a customerthat has ordered a box of wine may want to monitor the temperature ofthe contents of the box to determine if the temperature and/or humiditygo above or below a set range. Likewise, the party that ships thepackage may also want to monitor the conditions of the package to ensurethat the content arrives in the proper condition.

Technological advances have enabled items to be tracked in ways that farexceed the functionality of a simple list. A rich information frameworknow can be applied to describe the item's interaction with itssurroundings, such as transportation and custodial handoffs.

Bar codes are one way organizations keep track of items. A retailer, forexample, may use bar codes on items in its inventory. For example, itemsto be sold in a retailer's store may each be labeled with a differentbar code. In order to keep track of inventory, the retailer typicallyscans the bar code on each item. In addition, when an item is sold to aconsumer, the bar code for that item is scanned.

Similarly, a package delivery provider may utilize bar codes byassociating a bar code with packages to be delivered to a recipient. Forexample, a package may have a bar code corresponding to a trackingnumber for that package. Each time the package goes through a checkpoint(e.g., the courier taking initial control of the package, the packagebeing placed in a storage facility, the package being delivered to therecipient, etc.), the package's bar code may be scanned. Bar codes,however, have the disadvantage that personnel must manually scan eachbar code on each item in order to effectively track the items.

Radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags are an improvement overtypical bar codes. RFID tags do not require manual scanning that isrequired by typical bar codes. For example, in a retail context, an RFIDtag on an inventory item may be able to communicate with an electronicreader that detects items in a shopping cart and adds the cost of eachitem to a bill for the consumer. RFID tags have also been used to trackthings such as livestock, railroad cars, trucks, and even airlinebaggage. These tags typically only allow for basic tracking and do notprovide a way to improve asset management using information about theenvironment in which the items are tracked. Sensor-based trackingsystems are also known which can provide more information than RFIDsystems.

Shippers, carriers, recipients, and other parties often wish to know thelocation, condition, and integrity of shipments before, during, andafter transport to satisfy quality control goals, meet regulatoryrequirements, and optimize business processes.

SUMMARY

In various embodiments, tracking devices are configured to maximizesystem life (e.g., collective battery charge) by selecting one or moreappropriate nodes (master tracking devices) from among a network oftracking devices for WWAN communication. Additional embodiments providefor redundancy in the system to enable theft detection.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exemplary network environment 100 according to anembodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a tracking device according to anembodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3A is block diagram of a tracking device network according to anembodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3B is a block diagram of a tracking device network according to anembodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3C is a block diagram of a tracking device network according to anembodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3D is a block diagram of a tracking device network according to anembodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a view of container containing a tracking device and items tobe tracked by the tracking device according to an embodiment of thedisclosure.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a tracking device network according to anembodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a tracking device network according to anembodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is an exemplary network environment 100 including at least onetracking device system 200. The tracking device system 200 may include aplurality of tracking devices 10. Each tracking device 10 may be used totrack high-value assets such as (but not limited to) pharmaceuticals,weapons, medical equipment, luxury goods, and/or any other asset or itemthat can be transported. In various embodiments, the plurality oftracking devices 10 is utilized within wireless proximity of each otherto form a network (e.g., 22 in FIGS. 3A-3C, 5, and 6). Each trackingdevice 10 may be associated with (e.g., placed in or on, be part of,attached to, etc.) a container 5, such as a box, bin, package, or thelike. Multiple containers 5 are placed near each other inside a largerenclosure, such as a transportation vehicle 15, cargo bin, or the like.For example, the larger enclosure may be a truck 15 or airplane carryingboxes 5 each containing a tracking device 10 for tracking items in eachof the boxes 5. It should be noted that the terms “tracking device” and“container” (e.g., container that contains the tracking device) andequivalents of those terms may be used interchangeably, unless specifiedotherwise.

In various embodiments, the tracking device 10 is able to transmitand/or receive data and information over a wireless communicationinterface (e.g., network 20). Coupled with the network 20 are one ormore servers exemplified by server 30. In some embodiments, a websitemay reside on the server 30. The network 20 may represent one or both oflocal area networks (LAN) and wide area networks (WAN) and/or any othernetwork environment. In particular embodiments, the tracking device 10may be coupled to the server 30 via the network 20, which may be awireless WAN (WWAN). In other embodiments, the tracking device 10 may becoupled to a base station, such as hub 110 or router, or otherelectronic device via a LAN or wireless LAN (WLAN). The base station 110may be coupled to the server 30 via the WWAN 20 to communicate with theserver 30. In yet other embodiments, the tracking device 10 maycommunicate with the server 30 through a femtocell (which may have itsown backhaul), a relay node (e.g., LTE relay node), base station (e.g.,Node B, eNode B), and/or the like.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the tracking device 100 may beconfigured to provide voice and/or data communications functionality inaccordance with different types of wireless network systems. Examples ofwireless network systems may further include (but are not limited to) awireless local area network (WLAN) system, wireless metropolitan areanetwork (WMAN) system, wireless wide area network (WWAN) system, and thelike. Examples of suitable wireless network systems offering datacommunication services may include (but are not limited to) theInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.xx seriesof protocols, such as the IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n series of standardprotocols and variants (also referred to as “WiFi”), the IEEE 802.16series of standard protocols and variants (also referred to as “WiMAX”),the IEEE 802.20 series of standard protocols and variants, and the like.It should be noticed that references WAN and WWAN may be madeinterchangeably throughout the disclosure and/or references to LAN andWLAN may be made interchangeably throughout the disclosure.

The tracking device 10 may be configured to perform data communicationsin accordance with different types of shorter range wireless systems,such as a wireless personal area network (PAN) system. One example of asuitable wireless PAN system offering data communication services mayinclude a Bluetooth system operating in accordance with the BluetoothSpecial Interest Group (SIG) series of protocols, including (but notlimited to) Bluetooth Specification versions v1.0, v1.1, v1.2, v2.0,v2.0+EDR (Enhanced Data Rate), v2.1+EDR, v3.0+HS (High Speed), v4.0, aswell as one or more Bluetooth Profiles, and/or the like.

In various embodiments, the tracking device 10 may comprise adual-processor architecture 12 including a first processor (hostprocessor) 40 and a second processor 50. The first processor 40 and thesecond processor 50 may be configured to communicate with each otherusing interfaces 14 such as (but not limited to) one or more universalserial bus (USB) interfaces, micro-USB interfaces, universalasynchronous receiver-transmitter (UART) interfaces, general purposeinput/output (GPIO) interfaces (e.g., inter-integrated circuit (i2C)),control/status lines, control/data lines, shared memory, and/or thelike. The tracking device 10 may further include one or more sensors 60and a radio frequency identification (RFID) device 70.

The first processor 40 may be responsible for executing various softwareprograms such as application programs and system programs to providecomputing and processing operations for the tracking device 10. Thesecond processor 50 may be responsible for performing various voice anddata communications operations for the tracking device 10 such astransmitting and receiving voice and data information over one or morewireless communications channels. The first processor 40 may beresponsible for performing various voice and data communicationsoperations for the tracking device 10 such as transmitting and receivingvoice and data information over one or more wireless communicationschannels. The first processor 40 and the second processor 50 may performvarious communications operations for the tracking device 10 overdifferent types of wireless communications channels. For example, thefirst processor may be configured to communicate with another device(e.g., another tracking device 10) via a first subsystem (e.g., overWLAN 22 in FIGS. 3A-3D, 5, and 6) and the second processor 50 may beconfigured to communicate with another device (e.g., the server 30) viaa second subsystem (e.g., over the WWAN 20). The first subsystem may bea low-power subsystem relative to the second subsystem that is ahigh-power subsystem.

Although embodiments of the dual-processor architecture 12 may bedescribed as comprising the first processor 40 and the second processor50 for purposes of illustration, the dual-processor architecture 12 ofthe tracking device 10, for example, may comprise additional processors,may be implemented as a dual- or multi-core chip with both the firstprocessor 40 and the second processor 50 on a single chip, etc.

In various embodiments, the first processor 40 may be implemented as ahost central processing unit (CPU) using any suitable processor or logicdevice, such as a general-purpose processor. The first processor 40 maycomprise, or be implemented as, a chip multiprocessor (CMP), dedicatedprocessor, embedded processor, media processor, input/output (I/O)processor, co-processor, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), aprogrammable logic device (PLD), or other processing device inalternative embodiments. In particular embodiments, the first processor40 may be a system-on-chip processor (e.g., ARM7-based processor or thelike).

The tracking device 10 may include a transceiver module 45 coupled tothe first processor 40. In some embodiments, the transceiver module 45may be integrated with the first processor 40.

The transceiver module 45 may comprise one or more transceiversconfigured to communicate using different types of protocols,communication ranges, operating power requirements, RF sub-bands,information types (e.g., voice or data), use scenarios, applications,and/or the like. In various embodiments, the transceiver module 45 maycomprise one or more transceivers configured to support communicationwith local devices (e.g., other tracking devices 10) using any number orcombination of communication standards. In various embodiments, thetransceiver module 45 may comprise one or more transceivers configuredto perform data communications in accordance with one or more wirelesscommunications protocols such as (but not limited to) WLAN protocols(e.g., IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n, IEEE 802.16, IEEE 802.20, etc.), PANprotocols, Low-Rate Wireless PAN protocols (e.g., ZigBee, IEEE802.15.4-2003), Infrared protocols, Bluetooth protocols, EMI protocolsincluding passive or active RFID protocols, and/or the like.

The transceiver module 45 may be implemented using one or more chips asdesired for a given implementation. Although the transceiver module 45may be shown as being separate from and external to the first processor40 for purposes of illustration. In various embodiments, some portion orthe entire transceiver module 45 may be included on the same integratedcircuit as the first processor 40.

In some embodiments, the tracking device 10 may comprise an antennasystem 47 for transmitting and/or receiving electrical signals usingWLAN protocols or the like. For instance, the antenna system 47 may becoupled to the first processor 40 through the transceiver module 45. Theantenna system 47 may comprise or be implemented as one or more internalantennas and/or external antennas.

In particular embodiments, the first processor 40 may be a low-powerprocessing chip configured to support wireless local communication(e.g., mesh networking, ZigBee, 802.15.4, or other suitablecommunication standard) over a LAN (e.g., 22 in FIGS. 3A-3C, 5, and 6)with other tracking devices 10. The first processor 40 may be configuredto process data received from the sensors 60 and/or the RFID device 70.The first processor 40 and the sensors 60 and/or the RFID device 70 maybe configured to communicate with each other using interfaces 15 such as(but not limited to) one or more universal serial bus (USB) interfaces,micro-USB interfaces, universal asynchronous receiver-transmitter (UART)interfaces, general purpose input/output (GPIO) interfaces (e.g.,inter-integrated circuit (i2C)), control/status lines, control/datalines, shared memory, and/or the like.

The tracking device 10 may comprise a memory 42 coupled to the firstprocessor 40. In various embodiments, the memory 42 may be configured tostore one or more software programs to be executed by the firstprocessor 40. The memory 42 may be implemented using anymachine-readable or computer-readable media capable of storing data suchas (but not limited to) volatile memory or non-volatile memory,removable or nonremovable memory, erasable or non-erasable memory,writeable or re-writeable memory, and/or the like. Examples ofmachine-readable storage media may include, without limitation,random-access memory (RAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), Double-Data-Rate DRAM(DDRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), static RAM (SRAM), read-only memory(ROM), programmable ROM (PROM), erasable programmable ROM (EPROM),electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), flash memory (e.g., NORor NAND flash memory), or any other type of media suitable for storinginformation.

Although the memory 42 may be shown as being separate from the firstprocessor 40 for purposes of illustration, in various embodiments, someportion or the entire memory 42 may be included on the same integratedcircuit as the first processor 40. Alternatively, some portion or theentire memory 42 may be disposed on an integrated circuit or othermedium (e.g., hard disk drive) external to the integrated circuit of thefirst processor 40. In various embodiments, the tracking device 10 maycomprise an expansion slot (not shown) to support a multimedia and/ormemory card, for example.

The tracking device 10 may comprise an input/output (I/O) interface 44coupled to the first processor 40. The I/O interface 44 may comprise oneor more I/O devices such as (but not limited to) a serial connectionport, an infrared port, integrated Bluetooth® wireless capability,integrated 802.11x (WiFi) wireless capability, and/or the like to enablewired (e.g., USB cable) and/or wireless connection to a local device,such as another tracking device 10, a local personal computer (PC),and/or the like. In various embodiments, the device 10 may be configuredto transfer and/or synchronize information with the local computersystem. For example, the local computer system may be used to programthe tracking device 10 (e.g., set parameter thresholds for the sensors60).

The first processor 40 may be coupled to a power supply 80 configured tosupply and manage power to the elements of tracking device 10, such as(but not limited to) the first processor 40, the second processor 50,the sensors 60, the RFID device 70, and/or the like. In variousembodiments, the power supply 80 may be implemented by a battery toprovide direct current (DC) power. In particular embodiments, the powersupply 80 may be a rechargeable battery, such as a rechargeable lithiumion battery and/or the like. In other embodiments, the power supply 80may be implemented by an alternating current (AC) adapter to draw powerfrom a standard AC main power supply.

As mentioned above, the second processor 50 may perform certain voiceand/or data communication operations for the tracking device 10. Inparticular embodiments, the second processor 50 may be a high-powerprocessing chip configured to support WWAN communication. For instance,the second processor 50 may be configured to receive data from the firstprocessor 40 and transmit the data via the WWAN 20, for example, to theserver 30 or other remote device.

In various embodiments, the second processor 50 may be configured tocommunicate voice information and/or data information over one or moreassigned frequency bands of a wireless communication channel. In variousembodiments, the second processor 50 may be implemented as acommunications processor using any suitable processor or logic device,such as a modem processor or base band processor. Although someembodiments may be described with the second processor 50 implemented asa modem processor or base band processor by way of example, it may beappreciated that the embodiments are not limited in this context. Forexample, the second processor 50 may comprise, or be implemented as, adigital signal processor (DSP), media access control (MAC) processor, orany other type of communications processor in accordance with thedescribed embodiments. In particular embodiments, the second processor50 may be any of a plurality of modems manufactured by Qualcomm, Inc. orother manufacturers.

In various embodiments, the second processor 50 may perform analogand/or digital base band operations for the tracking device 10. Forexample, the second processor 50 may perform digital-to-analogconversion (DAC), analog-to-digital conversion (ADC), modulation,demodulation, encoding, decoding, encryption, decryption, and/or thelike.

The tracking device 10 may include a transceiver module 55, such as amobile station modem (MSM) or the like, coupled to the second processor50. In some embodiments, the transceiver module 55 may be integratedwith the second processor 50.

The transceiver module 55 may comprise one or more transceiversconfigured to communicate using different types of protocols,communication ranges, operating power requirements, RF sub-bands,information types (e.g., voice or data), use scenarios, applications,and/or the like. In various embodiments, the transceiver module 55 maycomprise one or more transceivers configured to support communicationwith devices (e.g., server 30) using any number or combination ofcommunication standards (e.g., GSM, CDMA, TDNM, WCDMA, OFDM, GPRS,EV-DO, WiFi, WiMAX, S02.xx, UWB, LTE, satellite, etc). The techniquesdescribed herein can be used for various wireless communication networkssuch as Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) networks, Time DivisionMultiple Access (TDMA) networks, Frequency Division Multiple Access(FDMA) networks, Orthogonal FDMA (OFDMA) networks, Single-Carrier FDMA(SC-FDMA) networks, etc. The terms “networks” and “systems” are oftenused interchangeably. A CDMA network can implement a radio technologysuch as Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (UTRA), cdma2000, etc. UTRAincludes Wideband-CDMA (W-CDMA) and Low Chip Rate (LCR). CDMA2000 coversIS-2000, IS-95, and IS-856 standards. A TDMA network can implement aradio technology such as Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM).An OFDMA network can implement a radio technology such as Evolved UTRA(E-UTRA), IEEE 802.11, IEEE 802.16, IEEE 802.20, Flash-OFDM, etc. UTRA,E-UTRA, and GSM are part of Universal Mobile Telecommunication System(UMTS). Long Term Evolution (LTE) is an upcoming release of UMTS thatuses E-UTRA. UTRA, E-UTRA, GSM, UMTS, and LTE are described in documentsfrom an organization named “3rd Generation Partnership Project” (3GPP).CDMA2000 is described in documents from an organization named “3rdGeneration Partnership Project 2” (3GPP2).

In various embodiments, the transceiver module 55 may comprise one ormore transceivers configured to perform data communications inaccordance with one or more wireless communications protocols such as(but not limited to) WWAN protocols (e.g., GSM/GPRS protocols,CDMA/1×RTT protocols, EDGE protocols, EV-DO protocols, EV-DV protocols,HSDPA protocols, etc.) and/or the like.

The transceiver module 55 may be implemented using one or more chips asdesired for a given implementation. Although the transceiver module 55may be shown as being separate from and external to the second processor50 for purposes of illustration. In various embodiments, some portion orthe entire transceiver module 55 may be included on the same integratedcircuit as the second processor 50.

The tracking device 10 may comprise an antenna system 57 fortransmitting and/or receiving electrical signals using WWAN protocols orthe like. For instance, the antenna system 57 may be coupled to thesecond processor 50 through the transceiver module 55. The antennasystem 57 may comprise or be implemented as one or more internalantennas and/or external antennas. In other embodiments, the trackingdevice 10 may include a dual-purpose antenna system (not shown) fortransmitting and/or receiving electrical signals using WLAN and WWANprotocols, and/or the like. The dual-purpose antenna system may becoupled to one or both of the first processor 40 and the secondprocessor 50 via one or both of the transceiver modules 45, 55.

In various embodiments, the first processor 40 includes the transceivermodule 45 for local communication (e.g., WLAN protocols, PAN protocols,etc.) and the second processor 50 includes the transceiver module 55 forlonger-range communication (e.g., WWAN protocols). In other embodiments,the tracking device 10 may include a dual-purpose transceiver moduleconfigured for local communication and longer-range communication. Insuch embodiments, for instance, functionality allowing for longer-rangecommunication of the dual-purpose transceiver module may be selectivelydisabled, for example, as described in the disclosure. In someembodiments, the dual-purpose transceiver module may be coupled to thesecond processor 50 (e.g., the transceiver module 55). In otherembodiments, the dual-purpose transceiver module may be coupled to thefirst processor 40 (e.g., the transceiver module 45).

In various embodiments, the tracking device 10 may comprise a memory 52coupled to the second processor 52. The memory 52 may be implementedusing one or more types of machine-readable or computer-readable mediacapable of storing data such as volatile memory or non-volatile memory,removable or non-removable memory, erasable or non-erasable memory,writeable or re-writeable memory, etc. The memory 52 may comprise, forexample, flash memory and secure digital (SD) RAM. Although the memory52 may be shown as being separate from and external to the secondprocessor 52 for purposes of illustration, in various embodiments, someportion or the entire memory 52 may be included on the same integratedcircuit as the second processor 50.

In various embodiments, the tracking device 10 may comprise an I/Ointerface 54 coupled to the second processor 50. The I/O interface 54may comprise one or more I/O devices to enable wired (e.g., serial,cable, etc.) and/or wireless (e.g., WiFi, short-range, etc.)communication between the tracking device 10 and one or more externalcomputer systems.

In various embodiments, the tracking device 10 (e.g., the secondprocessor 50) is configured to provide location or positiondetermination capabilities. The tracking device 10 may employ one ormore location determination techniques including, for example, GlobalPositioning System (GPS) techniques, Cell Global Identity (CGI)techniques, CGI including timing advance (TA) techniques, EnhancedForward Link Trilateration (EFLT) techniques, Time Difference of Arrival(TDOA) techniques, Angle of Arrival (AOA) techniques, Advanced ForwardLink Trilateration (AFTL) techniques, Observed Time Difference ofArrival (OTDOA), Enhanced Observed Time Difference (EOTD) techniques,Assisted GPS (AGPS) techniques, hybrid techniques (e.g., GPS/CGI,AGPS/CGI, GPS/AFTL or AGPS/AFTL for CDMA networks, GPS/EOTD or AGPS/EOTDfor GSMI GPRS networks, GPS/OTDOA or AGPS/OTDOA for UMTS networks),and/or the like.

For example, in some embodiments, the tracking device 10 can receivepositioning signals from a satellite 120 and can obtain a positionlocation by processing information contained in the satellitepositioning signals. The satellite 120 can be part of asatellite-positioning system (SPS), such as GPS, Galileo, GLOSNASS,EGNOS, and the like. Using the known position of satellites 120 and thetiming of their respective signals, the tracking device 10 can determineits position location. In other embodiments, the server 30 determinesthe position location of the tracking device 10. For instance, in someembodiments, the tracking device 10 sends the positioning signalsreceived from the satellite 120 to the server 30. In other embodiments,for instance, the tracking device 10 causes the positioning signals tobe sent directly from the satellite 120 to the server 30.

In addition or in the alternative to satellite-based positioning, thetracking device 10 can determine its position location using terrestrial(earth-based) systems or by using a combination of earth-based andsatellite-based positioning. For example, in some embodiments, thetracking device 10 communicates with one or more base stations 130 a.The base stations 130 a, for example, can form range estimates usingtime of arrival (TOA), angle of arrival (AOA), time difference ofarrival (TDOA), and/or related techniques for signals received from thetracking device 10. By combining their known locations with these rangeestimates, the base stations 130 a can determine a position location forthe tracking device 10. The base stations 130 a can also assist thetracking device 10 by locating satellites 120 or some or all of theperforming position location processing using the data obtained by thetracking device 10. In other embodiments, the server 30 determines theposition location of the tracking device 10. For instance, in someembodiments, the tracking device 10 sends the positioning signalsreceived from the base station 130 a to the server 30. In otherembodiments, for instance, the tracking device 10 causes the positioningsignals to be sent directly from the base station 130 a to the server30.

In some embodiments, the tracking device 10 includes one or more sensors(e.g., sensors 30) from which the tracking device 10 obtains positioningdata. For instance, sensor data such as velocity and acceleration can beused to determine a position offset (a change from a last known positionlocation). The position offset can be combined with a last knownposition location of the tracking device 10 in order to arrive at anupdated position location of the tracking device 10.

In various embodiments, the tracking device 10 supports multipleGPS-based modes, such as (but not limited to), standalone, Mobile System(MS)-Assisted, MS-Based A-GPS, Hybrid A-GPS/AFLT, standalone GPS,gpsOneXTRA Assistance, and/or the like.

In a standalone mode, such as a standalone GPS mode, the tracking device10 may be configured to determine its position location withoutreceiving wireless navigation data from the network, though the trackingdevice may receive certain types of position assist data, such asalmanac, ephemeris, and coarse data. In a standalone mode, the trackingdevice 10 may comprise a local location determination circuit 58 (e.g.,a GPS receiver), which in some embodiments may be integrated with thesecond processor 50, configured to receive satellite data (and/or thelike) via an antenna (not shown) and to calculate a position locationfix. The local location determination circuit 58 may alternativelycomprise a GPS receiver (or the like) in housing separate from a housingof the tracking device 10, but in the vicinity of the tracking device 10and configured to communicate with the tracking device 10 (e.g., via aPAN, such as Bluetooth, and/or the like). When operating in anMS-assisted mode or an MS-based mode, the tracking device 10 may beconfigured to communicate over a radio access network (e.g., UMTS radioaccess network) with a remote computer (e.g., a location determinationentity (PDE), a location proxy server (LPS), a mobile positioning center(MPC), and/or the like).

In an MS-assisted mode, such as an MS-assisted AGPS mode, the remotecomputer may be configured to determine the position location of thetracking device and provide wireless data comprising a position fix. Inan MS-based mode, such as an MS-based AGPS mode, the tracking device 10may be configured to determine its position location using acquisitiondata or other wireless data from the remote computer. The acquisitiondata may be provided periodically. In various embodiments, the trackingdevice 10 and the remote computer may be configured to communicateaccording to a suitable MS-PDE protocol (e.g., MS-LPS protocol, MS-MPCprotocol, and/or the like) such as (but not limited to) the TIAIEIAstandard IS-801 message protocol for MS-assisted and MS-based sessionsin a CDMA radiotelephone system.

When assisting the tracking device 10, the remote computer may handlevarious processing operations and may provide information to aidposition location determination. Examples of position assist data mayinclude satellite-based measurements, terrestrial-based measurements,and/or system-based measurements such as satellite almanac information,GPS code phase measurements, ionospheric data, ephemeris data, timecorrection information, altitude estimates, timing offsets,forward/reverse link calibration, coarse data, and/or the like.

In various embodiments, the position assist data provided by the remotecomputer may improve the speed of satellite acquisition and theprobability of a position location fix by concentrating the search for aGPS signal and/or may improve the accuracy of position locationdetermination. Each position fix or series of position fixes may beavailable at the tracking device 10 and/or at the remote computerdepending on the position location determination mode. In some cases,data calls may be made and position assist data may be sent to thetracking device 10 from the remote computer for every position fix(e.g., in an ad hoc mode). In other cases, data calls may be made andposition assist data may be sent periodically and/or as needed.

In various embodiments, the tracking device 10 may comprise dedicatedhardware circuits or structures, or a combination of dedicated hardwareand associated software, to support position location determination. Forexample, the transceiver module 55 and the antenna system 57 maycomprise a GPS receiver or transceiver hardware and one or moreassociated antennas coupled to the second processor 50 to supportposition location determination. Although the local locationdetermination circuit 58 may be shown as having some or an entireportion included on the same integrated circuit as the second processor50 for purposes of illustration, in various embodiments, the locallocation determination circuit 58 may be separate from the secondprocessor 50.

In various embodiments, the second processor 50 may be configured toinvoke a position location fix by configuring a position location engineand requesting a position location fix. For example, a position locationengine interface (not shown) on the second processor 50 may setconfiguration parameters that control the position locationdetermination process. Examples of configuration parameters may include,without limitation, position location determination mode (e.g.,standalone, MS-assisted, MS-based), actual or estimated number ofposition location fixes (e.g., single position location fix, series ofposition location fixes, request position assist data without a positionlocation fix), time interval between position location fixes, Quality ofService (QoS) values, optimization parameters (e.g., optimized forspeed, accuracy, or payload), PDE address (e.g., IP address and portnumber of LPS or MPC), and/or the like.

In some embodiments, the second processor 50 also may setrequest/response parameters to request and return various types ofposition location information. Examples of request/response parametersmay include current position location, latitude, longitude, altitude,heading, vector information such as horizontal and vertical velocity,sector-based position location, position location fix method, level ofaccuracy, time offset, position uncertainty, device orientation, clientinitialization and registration, and/or the like.

The second processor 50 may comprise or implement a position locationengine such as a GPS engine (e.g., 134). In various embodiments, theposition location engine may be configured to provide position locationdetermination capabilities for the tracking device 10. In someembodiments, the position location engine may be implemented as softwareoperating in conjunction with hardware (e.g., GPS receiver hardware)allowing the tracking device 10 to receive and process GPS satellitessignals (or the like) for position location determination. In oneembodiment, the position location engine may be implemented as aQUALCOMM® gpsOne® engine.

In various embodiments, the position location engine may employ one ormore position location determination techniques such as (but not limitedto) GPS, CGI, CGI+TA, EFLT, TDOA, AOA, AFTL, OTDOA, EOTD, AGPS,GPS/AGPS, hybrid techniques, and/or the like. The position locationengine also may be configured to operate in one or more positionlocation determination modes including a standalone mode, an MS-assistedmode, and an MS-based mode. The determined position location informationgenerated and/or obtained by the position location engine generally maycomprise any type of information associated with the position locationof the tracking device 10. Examples of position location information mayinclude, without limitation, current position location, latitude,longitude, altitude, heading information, vector information such ashorizontal and vertical velocity, sector-based position location,position location fix information, position location uncertainty, deviceorientation, and/or the like.

In particular embodiments, the second processor 50 is configured todetermine the position location of the tracking device 10. In otherembodiments, a sensor, such as one of the sensors 30, is configured todetermine the position location of the tracking device 10. In variousembodiments, the position location functionality of the tracking device10 may be selectively disabled or reduced. For example, the positionlocation functionality of the client tracking devices may be disabled,while the position location functionality of the master tracking devicesmay be enabled.

In various embodiments, the tracking device 10 may comprise a user inputdevice 46 coupled to the first processor 40. The user input device 46may comprise, for example, a QWERTY key layout and/or an integratednumber dial pad. The tracking device 100 may comprise various keys,buttons, and switches such as, for example, input keys, preset andprogrammable hot keys, left and right action buttons, a navigationbutton such as a multidirectional navigation buttons, phone/send andpower/end buttons, preset and programmable shortcut buttons, a keypad,an alphanumeric keypad, and/or the like.

In various embodiments, the first processor 40 may be coupled to adisplay 48. The display 48 may comprise any suitable visual interfacefor displaying content to a user of device 100, such as an LCD, LED,OLED, and/or the like. For example, the display 48 may be implemented byan LCD such as a touch-sensitive color (e.g., 16-bit color) thin-filmtransistor (TFT) LCD screen.

The RFID device 70 may include an RFID reader for remotely retrievingdata from RFID tags or transponders. An RFID tag can be attached to orincorporated into a corresponding asset (e.g., pharmaceutical container)or group of assets (e.g., multiple pharmaceutical containers within abox) for purpose of identification using radio waves. RFID tags containat least two parts, an integrated circuit for storing and processinginformation, modulating and demodulating a radio frequency (“RF”)signal, and perhaps other specialized functions; and an antenna forreceiving from and/or transmitting the RF signal. The RFID device 70 mayemploy an antenna 75, such as (but not limited to) a near fieldcommunication (NFC), proximity, or boundary antenna, to communicate withthe RFID tag(s). Data (e.g., values, parameters, etc.) retrieved fromthe RFID tag(s) is transmitted to the first processor 40.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 4, in some embodiments, the antenna 75 ofthe RFID device 70 may be sized and shaped to fit within a box 205 orother container for containing assets. For example, the antenna 75 maybe a flat integrated loop antenna shaped to fit within the box 205.Merchandise (assets) 215, each (or at least some) having an RFID tag225, is placed in the box 205 to partially fill the box 205. The flatparasitic antenna 75 is above the merchandise 215. The tracking device10 (or the daughter card 18) may be inserted in a pocket of the antennastructure 75. Then the remaining merchandise 215 may be placed above theantenna 75 to fill the box 205. In other embodiments, the antenna 75 maybe integrated into the box 205. For example, the antenna 205 may be asidewall (or portion thereof) of the box 205. In various embodiments,the antenna 75 may be made of any suitable material such cardboard,plastic, or the like and include metal strips, wire, or other suitableconductive material.

With reference to FIGS. 1-2, the sensors 30 are configured to measure ordetect one or more conditions or parameters relating to the trackedassets. The one or more conditions or parameters may include (but notlimited to) light, humidity, temperature, motion, shock, pressure,airflow, vibration, gas level, magnet fields, and/or the like. Detectionof shock or vibration, for instance above a predetermined threshold, bythe sensors 30 may indicate, for example, that the container in whichthe tracked assets are contained is being opened. Likewise, detection oflight, for instance above a predetermined threshold, by the sensors 30may indicate, for example, that the container is open. Detection ofmotion, for instance above a predetermined threshold, by the sensors 30may indicate, for example, that the container is being moved (e.g.,stolen). Detection of humidity or temperature, for instance above apredetermined threshold, by the sensors 30 may indicate, for example,that the contents of the container may be harmed (e.g., spoil, freeze,etc.) by the current environmental conditions. The measured or detecteddata may be transmitted to the first processor 40.

In particular embodiments, the sensors 60 and the RFID device 70 may bearranged on a daughter card 18 for communicating with the firstprocessor 40. In some embodiments, the daughter card 18 may be separatefrom the first processor 40 and the second processor 50.

The second processor 50 may communicate with the first processor 40 toretrieve sensor data and the RFID data received from the sensors 60 andthe RFID data, respectively. In some embodiments, the second processor50 (and/or the first processor 40) may be configured to allow forsetting of thresholds for the sensors 60 (and/or the RFID device 70). Inparticular embodiments, the second processor 50 may receive an interruptfrom the first processor 40 when a threshold for the sensors 60 ispassed. For example, a motion threshold may be set (e.g., via the server30) such that any motion detected above the set threshold causes aninterrupt to be sent from the first processor 40 to the second processor50. As a result, the second processor 50, for example, may wake from ahibernation mode to transmit data relating to the detected motion, theasset being tracked, and/or the like.

In various embodiments, one or more of the tracking devices 10 can serveas a master for other tracking devices (clients). The master trackingdevices can power up and power down the higher-power second processor 50and maintain the lower-power first processor 40. The client trackingdevices could merely maintain the lower-power first processor 40 activefor local networking (e.g., mesh networking) and data exchanges with themaster tracking device and other client tracking devices, for examplevia the LAN 22 (e.g., 3A-3C, 5, and 6). Thus, because the mastertracking devices may report data on behalf of the client trackingdevices, the client tracking devices may hibernate their respectivesecond processors 50 or otherwise disable or reduce their respectiveWWAN communication functionality (and/or other functionality) (e.g.,client tracking devices 10B and 10D in FIG. 5).

For instance, as shown in FIG. 3A, tracking device 10A is serving as amaster for client (member) tracking devices 10B, 10C, 10D, 10E, and 10F.Each of the client tracking devices 10B, 10C, 10D, 10E, 10F disablesWWAN communication (e.g., disables the second processor 50 in FIG. 2)and continues tracking, via the sensors (60 in FIG. 2) and the RFIDdevice (70 in FIG. 2), its corresponding asset(s). The client trackingdevices 10B, 10C, 10D, 10E, 10F receives the sensor data and RFID data(e.g., via the respective first processor 40) and transmit the data tothe master tracking device 10A via a LAN 22. The master tracking device10A may also track a corresponding asset in a similar manner as theclient tracking devices 10B, 10C, 10D, 10E, 10F. The master trackingdevice 10A (e.g., via the second processor 50) may transmit its sensordata and RFID data along with the data received from the client trackingdevices 10B, 10C, 10D, 10E, 10F via the WWAN 20 (FIG. 1) to the server30 or other remote device.

In various embodiments, local network connectivity (e.g., via LAN 22)among the client tracking devices could include single-hopnetworking—one or more client tracking devices are connected to a mastertracking device (e.g., client tracking devices 10C and 10E connected toa master tracking device 10F in FIG. 3D)—and/or multi-hop networking—oneor more client tracking devices are connected to a master trackingdevice through at least one other client tracking device (e.g., clienttracking device 10B is connected to master tracking device 10A throughclient tracking device 10D)—using ZigBee, 802.15.4, or other suitablecommunication standard.

Different tracking devices 10 may have different available battery lifeand wireless link quality for WWAN connectivity (e.g., via the WWAN 20).For instance, depending on the location of the tracking devices 10 (orcontainers containing the tracking devices) in the transport vehicle 15,some tracking devices 10 may have better WWAN link quality than othertracking devices 10. Higher quality WWAN links can consume less energyto transmit the same amount of data than lower quality WWAN links Forexample, tracking devices 10 in containers on an outer periphery of atruck may have better WWAN link quality than those closer to theinterior of the truck. Thus, by selecting tracking devices 10, forexample that are located on the outer periphery of the truck, for WWANconnectivity, energy collectively consumed by the tracking devices 10can be conserved.

Accordingly, in various embodiments, the tracking devices 10 areconfigured to maximize system life (e.g., collective battery charge) byselecting one or more appropriate nodes (master tracking devices) fromamong the tracking devices for WWAN communication. The master trackingdevices may be selected based on WWAN link quality (Qi), remainingbattery life (Ei), and/or other suitable factors.

In various embodiments, the tracking device serving as the mastertracking device may change. For instance, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B,the tracking device serving as master changes from tracking device 10A(FIG. 3A) to tracking device 10B (FIG. 3B). As such, the new mastertracking device 10B serves as master for the current client trackingdevices 10A, 10C, 10D, 10E, 10F. The client tracking devices (e.g., 10C,10D, 10E, 10F) that were previously client tracking devices may continueto operate in a similar manner. The client tracking device 10A, whichwas previously the master tracking device, may disable WWANcommunication. The new master tracking device 10B, which was previouslya client device, may enable WWAN communication to allow communicationvia the WWAN 20. As such, for example, the new master tracking device10B (e.g., via the second processor 50) may transmit its sensor data andRFID data along with the data received from the client tracking devices10A, 10C, 10D, 10E, 10F via the WWAN 20 (FIG. 1) to the server 30 orother remote device.

With reference to FIGS. 1-3B, in some embodiments, the tracking deviceserving as the master tracking device (or other role) may change overtime or periodically. In particular embodiments, the tracking deviceserving as the master tracking device may change based on WWAN linkquality (Qi), remaining battery life (Ei), duration serving as a mastertracking device, and/or other suitable factors, non-limiting examples ofwhich are provided throughout the disclosure. For example, if thebattery life of the master tracking device (e.g., 10A) falls below athreshold, the tracking device with the next best WWAN link quality(e.g., 10B) may become the new master tracking device. As anotherexample, if the WWAN link quality of a client tracking device (e.g.,10C) exceeds the WWAN link quality of the master tracking device (e.g.,10A), that tracking device may become the new master tracking device.

In various embodiments, using a tracking device 10 with a better linkreduces energy for communications E_comm overall in the tracking devicesystem 200. For the higher-power second processor 50 in each trackingdevice 10, energy is consumed for ramping up power to the secondprocessor 50 (E_pwrup), ramping down the power to the second processor50 (E_pwrdown), and for communications (E_comm) as well. Because onlyone of the tracking devices powers up or down (i.e., is designated atthe master tracking device), the cost (transition cost) of powering upor down is incurred only once for all the other tracking devicessupported by the master tracking device.

Let B_i be the available battery energy in tracking device i (e.g.,master tracking device), and let Q_(i) be the energy consumed per bitfor communication by tracking device i, based on its link quality. If Xbits are communicated by a tracking device i, this consumes energy givenby equation (1). This results in a corresponding reduction in theavailable battery energy for the tracking device i.

E _(i) =E_pwrup+Q_(i) *X+E_pwrdown  (1)

If each tracking device k (e.g., client tracking device) needs tocommunicate L_(k) bits, where the tracking devices use the i-th trackingdevice for WWAN communications (i.e., designated as the master trackingdevice), then the number of bits communicated is given by equation (2)

X=ΣkL_(k)  (2)

If each tracking device k independently communicates with the WWAN 20using its corresponding energy per bit Q_(k), then the total energyconsumed is given by equation (3).

E=Σk(E_pwrup+Q _(k) *L _(k) +E_pwrdown)  (3)

The energy saved by using tracking device i is given by equation (4).

ΔE=(k−1) (E_pwrup+E_pwrdown)+Σk(Q _(k) −Q _(i))*L _(k)  (4)

Accounting for the cost for local data transfers of L_(k) bits from eachnode k to node i and assuming an average cost of S energy units (joules)per bit for local data transmitted by nodes, then the actual energysaved is given by equation (5).

ΔE=(k−1) (E_pwrup+E_pwrdown)+Σk(Q _(k) −Q _(i) −S)*L _(k)  (5)

In various embodiments, the tracking device system 200 may implementmore than one master tracking device 10. For instance, given thedistributed nature of the tracking devices 10, many tracking devicescould serve as master tracking devices with good link qualities, so thatthe processing load in the tracking device system 200 can be distributedbetween the multiple master tracking devices. In addition, theprocessing load can be replicated across multiple master trackingdevices to introduce fault tolerance and theft protection in thetracking device system 200, and to eliminate the possibility of asingle-point-of-failure in the tracking device system 200. As timeprogresses, the master tracking devices may be replaced by other mastertracking devices, for example, which may have higher battery life albeitlower quality links that consume higher energy for communication.

For instance, with reference to FIGS. 3C and 5, the tracking device 10Amay serve as a first master tracking device for client tracking devices10B, 10D. The tracking devices 10A, 10B, and 10D may form a firstcluster 10′. The tracking device 10F may serve as a second mastertracking device for client tracking devices 10C, 10E. The trackingdevices 10F, 10C, 10E may form a second cluster 10″. The first mastertracking device 10A (e.g., via the second processor 50) may transmit itssensor data and RFID data along with the data received from the clienttracking devices 10B, 10D via the WWAN 20 (FIG. 1) to the server 30 orother remote device. Likewise, the second master tracking device 10F(e.g., via the second processor 50) may transmit its sensor data andRFID data along with the data received from the client tracking devices10C, 10E via the WWAN 20 to the server 30 or other remote device.

If the L_(k) bits associated with tracking device k is sent by twomaster tracking devices i and j to enable fault tolerance and theftdetection of a tracking device, then the energy saved is given byformula (6).

ΔE=(k−2) (E_pwrup+E_pwrdown)+Σk(Q _(k) −Q _(i) −Q _(j) −S)*L _(k)  (6)

In particular embodiments, the cost of local data transferred is keptunchanged with the presumption that multiple receivers can receive thesame data from a transmitter, and with the assumption that energy costof reception is negligible compared to the cost for transmissions.

In various embodiments in which two or more master tracking devices areused for redundant information transfer, one or more of the mastertracking devices may send different data from the other master trackingdevice(s). For instance, in some embodiments, one master tracking devicei (e.g., 10A in FIG. 3C) may transmit all the information (e.g., firstdata) and a second master tracking device j (e.g., 10F in FIG. 3C) mayonly send partial information (e.g., second data). In some embodiments,the partial information is data that is sent less frequency than thefirst data. In some embodiments, the partial information is data that isa compressed form of the first data. In some embodiments, the partialinformation is data that indicates presence of the tracking device.

Such embodiments, for instance, result in a compression factor of δ inthe tracking device system 200, so that the energy saved in a trackingdevice system having two master tracking devices and with compressedtransmission by a second master (of the two master tracking devices) isgiven by equation (7).

ΔE=(k−2) (E_pwrup+E_pwrdown)+Σk(Q _(k) −Q _(i) −δQ _(j) −S)*L _(k)  (7)

In some embodiments in which two or more master tracking devices areused, one master tracking device (e.g., 10A in FIG. 3C) could beconfigured to send complete information about a first set of clienttracking devices (e.g., 10B, 10D in FIG. 3C) and redundant info about asecond set of client tracking devices (e.g., 10C, 10E in FIG. 3C). Theother master tracking device (e.g., 10F in FIG. 3C) may be configured tosend complete information about the second set of client trackingdevices (e.g., 10C, 10E in FIG. 3C) and redundant information about thefirst set of client tracking devices (e.g., 10B, 10D in FIG. 3C). If theenergy per bit consumed for transmission by each master tracking deviceis approx Q, then along with the compressed redundancy factor δ in thetracking device system 200, the overall energy saved is given by formula(8).

ΔE=(k−2) (E_pwrup+E_pwrdown)+Σk(Q _(k) −(1+δ)Q−S)*L _(k)  (8)

With reference to FIG. 6, in various embodiments, the tracking devicesystem 200 may implement at least a three-level hierarchy of trackingdevices. In some embodiments, the hierarchy may include client (member)tracking devices, master tracking devices, and super-master trackingdevices. In other embodiments, the hierarchy may include any number oflevels.

In particular embodiments, when a new tracking device 10D first joinsthe network, the new tracking device 10D may join a cluster 10′ oftracking devices 10A, 10E, 10F in the new tracking device's 10Dneighborhood as a client tracking device. After joining the cluster 10′,the new tracking device 10D reports its sensor data and controlinformation to the master tracking device 10A of the cluster 10′, forinstance, periodically or on-demand. The roles of each tracking devicewithin the cluster 10′ may change, for example, in a manner described inthe disclosure.

In particular embodiments, when a new tracking device 10C joins thenetwork, the new tracking device 10C may choose to start a new cluster10′″ with itself as the master tracking device. This new cluster 10′″,which includes tracking devices 10C, 10K, 10L, 10M, does not interferewith existing clusters. The master tracking device 10C may broadcastbeacons, accepts new client tracking devices, and collect sensor andcontrol information from all the client tracking devices (e.g., 10K,10L, 10M) in its cluster 10′″. The master tracking device 10C maycommunicate with other master tracking devices 10B, 10A to exchange dataand control information. The master tracking device 10C may choose toquit being a master tracking device (at which point a client trackingdevice may become the master tracking device) based on various factors,such as (but not limited to) remaining battery level, time duration ithas been a master, and/or the like.

A particular tracking device may choose to become a master trackingdevice based on various factors, such as (but not limited to), thecurrent number of master tracking devices in the tracking device system200, whether there are any master tracking devices nearby the particulartracking device, time duration that another master tracking device hasbeen a master tracking device, battery life of the particular trackingdevice (and/or other client tracking devices and/or other mastertracking devices), the number of client tracking devices that need toneed to be covered by the particular tracking device, link quality ofthe particular tracking device with other tracking devices (e.g., otherclient tracking devices and/or other master tracking devices), WWAN linkquality, transition costs (e.g., cost of powering up and/or poweringdown WWAN communication and/or tracking device components, such as thefirst processor 40, the second processor 50, etc.), system constraints,and/or the like, and/or other factors provided in the disclosure. Somesystem constraints may include (but are not limited to), the number ofclient tracking devices allowed in a cluster, the number of mastertracking devices allowed in the tracking device system 200, and/or thelike. In some embodiments, the system constraints may be providedremotely, for instance, from the server 30 or through the WWAN 20 (e.g.,in a system information block). In various embodiments, the particulartracking device may use one or more formulas, such as (but not limitedto) formulas (1)-(8), and/or the like to determine whether to become amaster tracking device.

In particular embodiments, a master tracking device may serve as asuper-master tracking device 10B. The super-master tracking device 10Bmay use a WWAN backhaul (e.g., WWAN 20) to communicate with the server30. For example, the super-master tracking device 10B may have itslong-distance radio (e.g., the second processor 50 or related component)turned on in order to transmit all collected data from the clienttracking devices (e.g., 10G, 10H, 10I, 10J) in its cluster 10″ and othermasters 10A, 10C to the server 30.

The other master tracking devices 10A, 10C may form an indirect path tothe server 30 via the super-master tracking device 10B and/or anintermediary master tracking device (not shown), which communicates withthe super-master tracking device 10B and/or a further intermediarymaster tracking device. In such embodiments, for example, the mastertracking devices 10A, 10C do not have their long-distance radio (or thelike) or otherwise provide for direct communication with the server 30.Thus, in various embodiments, a master tracking device is in effect asuper-master tracking device for the client tracking devices in itscluster because the master tracking device provides a backhaul, albeitindirectly through another node, to the server 30. The master trackingdevice may just choose to not provide a direct backhaul to the server30.

Whether a particular master tracking device will become a super-mastertracking device (or vice-versa) may depend on various factors, such as,but not limited to, link quality of the long-distance wireless link, theremaining battery level of the particular master tracking device (and/orother master tracking devices and/or a current super-master trackingdevice), the data load from the tracking devices in the cluster of theparticular master tracking device, the data load from other neighboringmaster tracking devices (and their corresponding client trackingdevices), and/or the like, and/or other factors provided in thedisclosure. In various embodiments, the particular master trackingdevice may use one or more formulas, such as (but not limited to)formulas (1)-(8), and/or the like to determine whether to become asuper-master tracking device.

In some embodiments, one exemplary factor of whether a particular mastertracking device will become a super-master tracking device (orvice-versa) may depend on energy efficiency of alternate routes. Forexample, the particular master tracking device may become a super-mastertracking device if using a direct WWAN connection (e.g., between theparticular master tracking device and the server 30) would provide agreater energy savings than an indirect path in which the particularmaster tracking device uses at least one other master tracking device tocommunicate with a an alternative super-master tracking device, which isusing a direct WWAN connection with the server 30.

In some embodiments, one exemplary factor of whether a particular mastertracking device will become a super-master tracking device (orvice-versa) may depend on one or more network constraints, such as aload (e.g., data volume, duty cycle, number of concurrent WWAN links,and/or the like) on the WWAN 20, WWAN availability, WWAN channelbandwidth, WWAN code availability, WWAN time utilization, and/or thelike. For example, the particular master tracking device would notbecome a super-master tracking device if the increased load of addingthe particular master tracking device to the WWAN 20 (as a super-mastertracking device) would overburden the WWAN 20 given the current load ofthe WWAN 20 (e.g., from other tracking devices, devices that are nottracking devices, users, and/or the like). Other network constraints mayinclude (but are not limited to) the number of super-master trackingdevices allowed in the tracking device system 200, the coexistence amongmultiple tracking device systems (e.g., coexistence between a trackingdevice system implemented by a first entity or company, a trackingdevice system implemented by a second entity, and a tracking devicesystem implemented by a third entity), and/or the like.

In some embodiments, one exemplary factor of whether a particular mastertracking device will become a super-master tracking device (orvice-versa) may depend on a load (e.g., data volume, duty cycle, numberof concurrent WWAN links, and/or the like) on the LAN 22, for instance,from the master tracking device's member tracking devices and/or fromother master tracking devices.

In various embodiments, some tracking devices could communicate usingdifferent WWAN protocols than WWAN protocols used by other trackingdevices. Accordingly, WWAN link conditions for some tracking devices maybe different from WWAN link conditions of other tracking devices. Forexample, at a given time, a tracking device using an LTE-based WWANbackhaul could have a better WWAN link than a WWAN link of a trackingdevice using a HSPA-based WWAN backhaul. Based on, for example (but notlimited to), battery level (energy remaining), battery life, WWAN linkquality, type of WWAN protocol, and/or other factors, a particularmaster tracking device may determine whether to become a super-mastertracking device (or vice-versa). For instance, a ratio of the batterylevel to power associated with communicating via a particular WWANprotocol would reflect the battery life when using the particular WWANprotocol. In particular embodiments, the track devices are multi-modecapable with the ability to use different WWAN protocols (and/ordifferent frequencies) to allow a particular tracking device to selectthe most power-efficient and/or performance-efficient WWAN protocol(and/or frequency) to use at a particular time and/or location as thevehicle containing the tracking devices moves.

With reference to FIGS. 1-6, in particular embodiments, each of thetracking devices 10 maintains a neighbor list of other tracking devices(e.g., other tracking devices in its cluster). In some embodiments, eachof the client tracking devices may transmit its neighbor list to themaster tracking device. In further embodiments, the master trackingdevice may transmit its neighbor list and/or the neighbor lists receivedfrom the client tracking devices to the super-master tracking device.The super-master tracking device may transmit its neighbor lists and/orthe neighbor lists received from the master tracking devices directly tothe server 30. In some embodiments, the full neighbor list may bereported periodically by the super-master tracking device with a lowfrequency of transmission. Changes to the neighbor list (as receivedfrom other tracking devices) may be reported by the super-mastertracking device more frequently, for example. This may provide anapproximate location of each tracking device relative to other trackingdevices. In particular, this may indicate the presence (or absence) of atracking device. The absence of a tracking device may indicate aproblem, such as low battery level or the tracking device is otherwiseinoperable, or that the tracking device has been removed withoutauthorization (e.g., the tracking device and/or the assets associatedwith the tracking device has been stolen).

In various embodiments, a tracking device 10 could broadcast itspreference to not be a master tracking device (and/or super-mastertracking device), which can trigger the election of a suitable alternatemaster tracking device from among available tracking devices that arecandidates for being master tracking devices based on various factors,such as (but not limited to) the relative battery availability, expectedenergy per bit consumed over the WWAN 20, and/or the like, and/or thefactors provided in the disclosure.

In various embodiments, tracking devices (or boxes containing thetracking devices) may be physically moved to the periphery of thetransport vehicle (e.g., truck) to allow tracking devices that did notserve as master tracking devices to now become master tracking deviceswith a better wireless link or channel. In other embodiments, trackingdevices located away from the periphery can take over the role of mastertracking devices, for example once battery levels of the trackingdevices on the periphery have been sufficiently depleted, thus incurringa higher cost of communication than the other tracking devices. The roleof master tracking devices would proceed inwards to the other trackingdevices as time progresses.

In various embodiments, each of the tracking devices can have anindicator (e.g., display 48) for displaying data, such as (but notlimited to)available energy (e.g., battery charge), wireless linkquality, current role of the tracking device (e.g., client, master, orsuper-master), time serving in current role, network load, and/or thelike, and/or data relating to any one or more of the factors used todetermine whether a tracking device changes its role. Accordingly, forexample, on a subsequent trip, tracking devices with higher energy (asdisplayed on the indicator) can be placed on the periphery to obtainbetter WWAN link connectivity and potentially serve as master trackingdevices.

In various embodiments, the tracking device 10 includes the RFID device70 communicating with one or more RFID tags for communicating and/ortracking an asset associated with the one or more RFID tags. In otherembodiments, the tracking device 10 may use any suitable method orsystem for communicating and/or tracking an asset. Some examples include(but are not limited to), NFC systems, proximity systems, active andpassive RFID, wireless sensor networks, smart labels, and/or the like.

Various embodiments are directed to tracking devices in a collaborativenetwork. In other embodiments, any device or node in a network may beconfigured to dynamically determine whether to change its role (e.g.,from client to master, master to client, master to super-master,super-master to master, super-master to client, etc.)

It is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in theprocesses disclosed is an example of exemplary approaches. Based upondesign preferences, it is understood that the specific order orhierarchy of steps in the processes may be rearranged while remainingwithin the scope of the present disclosure. The accompanying methodclaims present elements of the various steps in a sample order, and arenot meant to be limited to the specific order or hierarchy presented.

Those of skill in the art would understand that information and signalsmay be represented using any of a variety of different technologies andtechniques. For example, data, instructions, commands, information,signals, bits, symbols, and chips that may be referenced throughout theabove description may be represented by voltages, currents,electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles, optical fields orparticles, or any combination thereof.

Those of skill would further appreciate that the various illustrativelogical blocks, modules, circuits, and algorithm steps described inconnection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented aselectronic hardware, computer software, or combinations of both. Toclearly illustrate this interchangeability of hardware and software,various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and stepshave been described above generally in terms of their functionality.Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or softwaredepends upon the particular application and design constraints imposedon the overall system. Skilled artisans may implement the describedfunctionality in varying ways for each particular application, but suchimplementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing adeparture from the scope of the present disclosure.

The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, and circuits describedin connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implementedor performed with a general purpose processor, a digital signalprocessor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), afield programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device,discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or anycombination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein.A general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in thealternative, the processor may be any conventional processor,controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also beimplemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combinationof a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one ormore microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other suchconfiguration.

The steps of a method or algorithm described in connection with theembodiments disclosed herein may be embodied directly in hardware, in asoftware module executed by a processor, or in a combination of the two.A software module may reside in RAM memory, flash memory, ROM memory,EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, hard disk, a removable disk, aCD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. Anexemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor such the processorcan read information from, and write information to, the storage medium.In the alternative, the storage medium may be integral to the processor.The processor and the storage medium may reside in an ASIC. The ASIC mayreside in a user terminal. In the alternative, the processor and thestorage medium may reside as discrete components in a user terminal.

In one or more exemplary embodiments, the functions described may beimplemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof.Such hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof may partof or implemented with any one or combination of the server 30 (refer toFIG. 1), the tracking device 10 (refer to FIGS. 1-2), componentsthereof, and/or the like. If implemented in software, the functions maybe stored on or transmitted over as one or more instructions or code ona computer-readable medium. Computer-readable media includes bothcomputer storage media and communication media including any medium thatfacilitates transfer of a computer program from one place to another. Astorage media may be any available media that can be accessed by acomputer. By way of example, and not limitation, such computer-readablemedia can comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical diskstorage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or anyother medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code inthe form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed bya computer. In addition, any connection is properly termed acomputer-readable medium. For example, if the software is transmittedfrom a website, server, or other remote source using a coaxial cable,fiber optic cable, twisted pair, digital subscriber line (DSL), orwireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave, then thecoaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, DSL, or wirelesstechnologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave are included in thedefinition of medium. Disk and disc, as used herein, includes compactdisc (CD), laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc (DVD),floppy disk, and Blu-Ray disc where disks usually reproduce datamagnetically, while discs reproduce data optically with lasers.Combinations of the above should also be included within the scope ofcomputer-readable media.

The previous description of the disclosed embodiments is provided toenable any person skilled in the art to make or use the presentdisclosure. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readilyapparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles definedherein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from thespirit or scope of the disclosure. Thus, the present disclosure is notintended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to beaccorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novelfeatures disclosed herein.

1. A collaborative method for a node, the method comprising: forming alocal network with at least one other node using a low power subsystem;selecting a master node from among the local network based on a firstset of criteria; and communicating with a back end server over awireless wide area network (WWAN) using a high power subsystem.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the communicating id via at least the masternode.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the master node communicateswith the back end server via another master node.
 4. The method of claim1, wherein the master node communicates with the back end server basedon a selection among the master node and at least one other master node.5. The method of claim 4, wherein the selection is based on a second setof criteria.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first set of criteriais the second set of criteria.
 7. The method of claim 5, wherein thesecond set of criteria includes at least one of: WWAN load, WWANavailability, WWAN channel bandwidth, WWAN code availability, WWAN timeutilization, quality of at least one link in at least one subsystem,type of WWAN protocol, remaining battery life, a cost associated withdata collection process from a collection of objects, a transition costof changing power states in at least one subsystem, energy efficiency,number of nodes allowed to participate in the WWAN, and number of nodesallowed to participate in the local network.
 8. The method of claim 7,the method further comprising: receiving the WWAN load in a systeminformation block.
 9. The method of claim 7, wherein the number of nodesallowed to participate in the WWAN is specified by at least one of theWWAN and the back end server.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein aprotocol for communicating over the WWAN is selected based on a thirdset of criteria.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the third set ofcriteria includes at least one of WWAN load, WWAN availability, WWANchannel bandwidth, WWAN code availability, WWAN time utilization,quality of WWAN link, and number of nodes allowed to participate in theWWAN.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of criteriaincludes at least one of: WWAN load, WWAN availability, WWAN channelbandwidth, WWAN code availability, WWAN time utilization, quality of atleast one link in at least one subsystem, type of WWAN protocol,remaining battery life, a cost associated with data collection processfrom a collection of objects, a transition cost of changing power statesin at least one subsystem, energy efficiency, number of nodes allowed toparticipate in the WWAN, and number of nodes allowed to participate inthe local network.
 13. The method of claim 12, the method furthercomprising: receiving the WWAN load in a system information block. 14.The method of claim 12, wherein the number of nodes allowed toparticipate in the WWAN is specified by at least one of the WWAN and theback end server.
 15. The method of claim 1, wherein the master nodereceives data from non-master nodes in the local network.
 16. The methodof claim 15, wherein the master node transmits, either directly orthrough at least another master node, at least the data received fromthe non-master nodes in the local network to the back end server. 17.The method of claim 1, wherein the master node receives data from masternodes of a different local network.
 18. The method of claim 17, whereinthe master node transmits, either directly or through at least anothermaster node, at least the data received from the master nodes in thedifferent local network to the back end server.
 19. The method of claim1, wherein the master node receives partial data from master nodes of adifferent local network.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the masternode transmits, either directly or through at least another master node,at least the partial data received from the master nodes in thedifferent local network to the back end server.
 21. The method of claim20, wherein the partial data is compressed.
 22. The method of claim 20,wherein the partial data indicates presence.
 23. The method of claim 1,the method further comprising: selecting a super-master node from amongthe master node and at least one other master node based on a second setof criteria, the super-master node for communicating with the back endserver over the WWAN using the high power subsystem.
 24. The method ofclaim 23, wherein the second set of criteria includes at least one of:WWAN load, WWAN availability, WWAN channel bandwidth, WWAN codeavailability, WWAN time utilization, quality of at least one link in atleast one subsystem, type of WWAN protocol, remaining battery life, acost associated with data collection process from a collection ofobjects, a transition cost of changing power states in at least onesubsystem, energy efficiency, number of nodes allowed to participate inthe WWAN, and number of nodes allowed to participate in the localnetwork.
 25. The method of claim 23, wherein a protocol forcommunicating over the WWAN is selected based on a third set ofcriteria.
 26. The method of claim 24, wherein the third set of criteriaincludes at least one of WWAN load, WWAN availability, WWAN channelbandwidth, WWAN code availability, WWAN time utilization, quality ofWWAN link, and number of nodes allowed to participate in the WWAN. 27.The method of claim 24, the method further comprising: receiving theWWAN load in a system information block.
 28. The method of claim 24,wherein the number of nodes allowed to participate in the WWAN isspecified by at least one of the WWAN and the back end server.
 29. Anapparatus comprising: a first subsystem for communicating with a localnetwork; and a second subsystem having an active mode and an inactivemode, the second subsystem for communicating with a wireless wide areanetwork (WWAN) when in the active mode, the apparatus selecting theactive mode or inactive mode based on a set of criteria.
 30. Theapparatus of claim 29, wherein the set of criteria includes at least oneof: WWAN load, WWAN availability, WWAN channel bandwidth, WWAN codeavailability, WWAN time utilization, quality of at least one link in atleast one subsystem, type of WWAN protocol, remaining battery life, acost associated with data collection process from a collection ofobjects, a transition cost of changing power states in at least onesubsystem, energy efficiency, number of apparatuses allowed toparticipate in the WWAN, and number of apparatuses allowed toparticipate in the local network.
 31. The apparatus of claim 29, whereinapparatus is configured to form the local network with at least oneother apparatus.
 32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein apparatus isconfigured to select a master apparatus from among the local networkbased on the set of criteria.
 33. The apparatus of claim 29, furthercomprising: at least one sensor module for sensing one or moreparameters relating to one or more assets associated with the apparatus;and an RFID module for reading one or more RFID tags of the one or moreassets associated with the apparatus; wherein the subsystem communicatesdata in the local network, the data comprising at least data relating tothe one or more parameters and the one or more RFID tags.
 34. Anapparatus comprising: a first communication means for communicating witha local network; and a second communication means having an active modeand an inactive mode, the second communication means for communicatingwith a wireless wide area network (WWAN) when in the active mode, theapparatus selecting the active mode or inactive mode based on a set ofcriteria.
 35. An apparatus comprising: a processor; a first subsystemfor communicating with a local network; a second subsystem having anactive mode and an inactive mode, the second subsystem for communicatingwith a wireless wide area network (WWAN) when in the active mode; and amemory comprising processor executable code and/or data, the processorexecutable code and/or data, when executed by the processor, configuresthe apparatus to select the active mode or inactive mode based on a setof criteria.